Black Panther - A Unique Superhero Movie

Black Panther - A Unique Superhero Movie

Tags: Black Panther Superhero Movie Trailers Wonder Woman Afro American Script Cast Story Fantasy Science Fiction Acting Special Effects CGI Comedy Marvel Cinematic Universe MCU Infinity War Stereotypes Film T'Challa African Wakanda T'Chaka King Chadwick Boseman Michael B. Jordan Erik Killmonger Danai Gurira Okoye Lupita Nyong'o Nakia Martin Freeman Everett K. Ross Daniel Kaluuya W'Kabi Letitia Wright Shuri Winston Duke M'Baku Sterling K. Brown N'Jobu Angela Bassett Ramonda Forest Whitaker Zuri Andy Serkis Ulysses Klaue Florence Kasumba Ayo John Kani T'Chaka David S. Lee Limbani Actors Villain

Today, we watched Black Panther, the movie. Our first impression from the trailers was that this would be fun and exciting to watch! Fortunately, we were not disappointed! At the outset, this is a unique superhero movie. It is similar to Wonder Woman movie - what Wonder Woman solo movie did for women across the world, the Black Panther movie does for the Afro American community. It is nice to see a movie done well and rounded on all fronts - script, cast, story line, fantasy, science fiction, acting, special effects and of course, comedy. Given that it is one of the many links in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) leading up the ultimate climax of Infinity War, it has charted its course well. However, it must be said that it has the usual stereotypes of any superhero film though that does not take away the fun from the movie. It is also significant from a cultural perspective making a difference for the Afro American community.

The storyline goes like this - T'Challa returns home to his African nation of Wakanda, after the death of his father T'Chaka, the King. It is now his turn to take his rightful place as King after his father's unfortunate demise and continue the legacy of Black Panthers before him. However, the path to that is not a bed of roses and is strewn with thorns. There are troubles that he must overcome with fortitude and wisdom before he rightfully ascends to the throne vanquishing his enemies. During those troubling times, he is drawn into a conflict with his enemies that puts Wakanda and the whole world at extreme risk. He is almost killed in the process but manages to survive, thanks to his family and allies. He then rallies his allies and his power as Black Panther to defeat his protagonists and secure the safety of his nation.

The movie casts Chadwick Boseman (T'Challa / Black Panther), Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Lupita Nyong'o (Nakia), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), Daniel Kaluuya (W'Kabi), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M'Baku), Sterling K. Brown (N'Jobu), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), Forest Whitaker (Zuri), Andy Serkis (Ulysses Klaue), Florence Kasumba (Ayo), John Kani (T'Chaka) and David S. Lee (Limbani). The actors play their roles well true to the script. If you are going with children, they would love it. If you are nerd or geek, then you would love it for the futuristic landscape it presents of the Wakandan kingdom. If you love fantasy and superhero movies, then this movie won't disappoint. It may not be at the awesome level but it is definitely worth watching once. Viewers however need to be prepared that the movie drags a bit at some points of the story. If you can sit through it, through the credits, you will get your money and time's worth.

One of the key positives of the movie is its light comedy tone. It lighted up the movie when sometimes it might have felt a drag or boring. The character of Everett Ross however felt disconnected and with no real apparent role in the movie. It was not even relevant in the storyline and appeared forced. One key message in this movie though is that there is no such thing as a typical villain - we make them to an extent through our flaws and faults - in this case, King T'Chaka killing his own brother and abandoning his nephew as a nobody.

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Justice League Movie - Injustice to Fans?

Justice League Movie - Injustice to Fans?

Tags: Justice League Movie Film Critics Fans Blockbuster Wonder Woman Superhero Zack Snyder Joss Wheedon Warner Bros Paramount Henry Cavill Ben Affleck Gal Gadot Ezra Miller Jason Momoa Ray Fisher Jeremy Irons Amy Adams Diane Lane Connie Nielsen J.K. Simmons Amber Heard Kal El Clark Kent Bruce Wayne Diana Prince Barry Allen Arthur Curry Victor Stone Superman Batman Wonder Woman Flash Aquaman Cyborg Alfred Lois Lane Martha Kent Queen Hippolyta Commissioner Gordon Mera Steppenwolf Mother Boxes Story Marvel's Avengers MCU DCEU Warner Bros

The Justice League movie was a much anticipated film by critics, fans and casual film watchers. It was widely expected to be a blockbuster especially riding on the success of its predecessor Wonder Woman, the first female solo superhero movie in recent times. It was essentially directed by Zack Snyder and was from the stable of Warner Bros. It had a strong cast comprising Henry Cavill (Kal El Superman, Clark Kent), Ben Affleck (Bat Man, Bruce Wayne), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman, Diana Prince), Ezra Miller (Flash, Barry Allen), Jason Momoa (Aqua Man, Arthur Curry), Ray Fisher (Cyborg, Victor Stone), Jeremy Irons (Alfred), Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Diane Lane (Martha Kent), Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta), J.K. Simmons (Commissioner Gordon) and Amber Heard (Mera), among others.

The story line is how Bruce Wayne's faith is restored in humanity after being inspired by Superman's selfless act and his death. He enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince to find and recruit a team of metahumans to face mankind's greatest threat and enemy, Steppenwolf who has awoken. However, the assault is of catastrophic proportions and the newly found league of super-heroes (Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash) may not be enough to stop the threat in his tracks and save the planet from imminent destruction. To counter the threat, something vital is missing and that is Super Man. Meanwhile, as the team make futile attempts to save Earth, Steppenwolf has emerged from his exile and has begun collecting the 3 Mother Boxes, ancient gadgets with the power to end all life on Earth. The Mother Boxes need to be kept out of the clutches of Steppenwolf lest they once combined, transform Earth into his nightmarish world with severe consequences for all the inhabitants of the planet including humans.

Originally, Zack Snyder's Justice League was expected to be DCEU's answer to Marvel's Avengers. Unfortunately, it was plagued by numerous issues. Some of these issues, like Zack Snyder's exit as Director on account of a personal tragedy, were thoroughly unavoidable. Snyder's 20 year old daughter rather tragically committed suicide in March 2017. Though Joss Wheedon stepped in for Zack Snyder, the movie suffered. There were many other problems too that were self-created by DC and Warner Bros. These included the confusion caused by the clash of directorial styles of Zack Snyder and Joss Wheedon, substantial re-shoots, indiscriminate and meaningless cuts / edits in the movie (probably favouring shorter run-time of the movie), a plot line that seemed quite weak and of course, an improbable story with numerous plot holes in it. The special effects and CGI too were way off the mark.

For instance, with Joss Wheedon stepping in, there were extensive re-shoots to the movie in London and Los Angeles. Consequently, Henry Cavill had to simultaneously work in both Mission Impossible and Justice League. In the former movie, he was sporting a moustache for his role while in Justice League, the moustache and facial hair had to be digitally removed since Paramount refused to let the actor shave it off when he had to play Superman again. Unfortunately, the digital removal did no good and the effects were awkward. This was clearly noticed by audiences globally.

There were more goofs like Steppenwolf's axe is easily destroyed by Superman's cold breath? Really, the axe of a super-being like Steppenwolf is made of such cheap material that it is so easily destructible? Was it cost cutting? Even more weird is that Steppenwolf despite being mighty and powerful is subdued by his own parademons, as he showed fear? The movie was underwhelming and belied expectations of critics and fans alike. The final product was more of a broken film rather than a powerful culmination of its predecessors Man of Steel, Wonder Woman and Batman Vs. Superman. Understandably, the film performed poorly at the box office, perhaps the lowest from recent movies in the DC franchise. Film goers also noticed that the much touted Justice League movie trailers contained footage that seemed to have disappeared from the movie itself!

However, do not forget that the movie has some positives too. The comedy tone was definitely much lighter in Justice League than Batman Vs. Superman. It was engaging through the movie and fun. The interplay of the superhero characters with each other was quite good. Ezra Miller as Flash adds genuine personality and innocent humour in the movie though the film could have done with better backstory for characters like Aquaman and Cyborg.

If you are prepared to make some allowances, then you can still expect the movie to be entertaining and fun. Despite all its gaps, in our view, it is worth watching, at least one time, especially for children.

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Thor, Ragnarok - A Comic Super Hero Fantasy?

Thor, Ragnarok - A Comic Super Hero Fantasy?

Tags: Hollywood Movies Films Thor Ragnarok Super Hero Fantasy Comic Comedy Humour Spoof Marvel Cinematic DC Extended Universe DCEU Critics Fans Audience Reviews Franchise Wonder Woman Script Director Cast Music Special Effects Justice League Zack Snyder Joss Whedon Taika Waititi Box Office INOX Theatre Asgard Avenger Loki Hulk Hela Odin Grandmaster Valkyrie Heimdall Skurge Executioner Lady Sif Hogun Doctor Strange Sakaar Sutur Chris Hemsworth Mark Ruffalo Cate Blanchett Anthony Hopkins Tom Hiddleston Jeff Goldblum Tessa Thompson Idris Alba Karl Urban Jaimee Alexander Tadanobu Asano Benedict Cumberbatch Matt Damon Sam Neill Luke Hemsworth Stan Lee

Thor, Ragnarok is the latest movie in the Thor / Marvel franchise. It has been received quite well by critics. In fact, the reviews have been quite splendid and received from across the world. That is not an easy feat for fantasy movies. Earlier, Wonder Woman received wide ranging acclaim for being the first solo super-heroine fantasy movie in recent times. To do that movie justice, it was quite well made on all fronts (script, directing, cast, music, special effects et al) and well deserved the acclaim it received.

However, Justice League which followed it, was not lucky. The movie was plagued by all manner of issues particularly with Zack Snyder moving out as Director (on account of a personal tragedy) and Joss Whedon stepping in to ensure the completion of the movie. Clearly, there was a clash of styles that the movie suffered from, not to mention the indiscriminate cuts all over the movie, making it a sad sight to watch. As some points, some of the footage from the trailers was also chopped off enraging fans world-wide. Consequently, Justice League bombed at the Box Office.

Fortunately, for Thor, Ragnarok, the going was smooth. It was not just critics but fans too loved the movie. The enthusiasm and support of the global audience showed visibly making the movie a major success at the Box Office. It went on to erase, the not so great performance, of its predecessors in the Thor franchise. Fans have thronged in droves to watch the movie in theatres and have applauded this Marvel movie. Apparently, the first movie of Director Taika Waititi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has struck gold. The quirky humour he has brought in to the movie has made the movie, lot of fun for fans to watch. We watched the movie last Nov 2017 in the INOX theatre and had a good time through the movie. If you have children coming with you, then you can be sure that they will be delighted.

The story line as it progresses shows the mighty Thor, imprisoned on the other side of the universe and participating in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the indomitable Hulk, his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor has to survive, escape and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying Asgardian civilization and of course, his home world. The movie, as is typical of MCU, boasts several big names in the cast. It is led by Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk / Bruce Banner), Cate Blanchett (Hela), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Jeff Goldblum (Grandmaster), Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie), Idris Alba (Heimdall), Karl Urban (Skurge, the Executioner) and Tadanobu Asano (Hogun).

The movie is quite fun and hilarious to watch. It is populated by a rich cast of popular actors, each one playing their role fabulously. Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban play their roles marvelously as the venomous Hela, the Grandmaster, the Valkyrie and Skurge, the Executioner. The established cast namely Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk / Bruce Banner), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Idris Alba (Heimdall) and Tadanobu Asano (Hogun) are well entrenched in their respective roles and play their scripts with elan. What may come in as a surprise to the audience though is the cameos in the movie by well known and popular faces. It features Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. Further, there is a play within the movie itself which has cameos by Matt Damon (as Loki), Sam Neill (as Odin) and Chris Hemsworth's brother, Luke Hemsworth (as Thor). As is the norm, Stan Lee plays a small part too playing the role of a gladiatorial barber.

The movie is well rounded and comes off well to critics, fans and casual movie goers alike. The script is written well with a good dose of super hero treats and lot of comedy with the actors living their roles too. The music score is exciting complemented by the special effects that set your heart racing with anticipation. The Director Taika Waititi has elevated the movie to a great film through his directorial skills and his quirky humour. Frankly, it is a positive deviation and a refreshing change for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it was falling in to a stereotype.

Just our feeling though - sometimes, the humour felt awkward, spoofy and cheap than genuine comedy - that did not feel good! This was just few times in the movie like when Thor refers to his team as Revengers or the escape from the planet Sakaar is through the Devil's anus. The movie had few plot holes too - at least, we thought so. For example, Thor is supposed to be powerful enough to eliminate Sutur and grab his horns as a trophy but can not defeat Hela who sort of gets vanquished by Sutur when he is reborn? And the super cast? Felt like their genius was not well exploited.

Overall though, it is mostly a fun movie and its few disappointments are not devastating! A good timepass for everyone and a watch, more than once.

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GeoStorm Movie - A Recipe for Disaster!

GeoStorm Movie - A Recipe for Disaster!

Tags: GeoStorm Hollywood Movie Film Trailers Screening Theatres TV Disaster Day After Tomorrow 2012 Script Science Special Effects CGI Climate Change Acting Gerard Butler Ed Harris Andy Garcia Jim Sturgess Abbie Cornish Planet Earth Satellites Astral Engineer Astronaut

In the recent past, disaster movie flicks like Day After Tomorrow and 2012 enthralled audiences across the world. Such movies were not just a flash in the pan. They were made with a good script, sound science, solid special effects and strong acting by lead actors. Consequently, every now and then, new disaster movie flicks keep cropping up attempting to capture the imagination of movie-goers in a similar vein as erstwhile popular movies.

One of those Hollywood movies that film buffs were looking forward to was GeoStorm, a disaster movie flick with climate change impact at its core. The film cast several well known and popular Hollywood names like Gerard Butler, Ed Harris, Andy Garcia, Jim Sturgess and Abbie Cornish. Actors like Gerard Butler and Ed Harris are big names in Hollywood and have proved their mettle in the past with captivating screen presence and capable acting. The film boasts tons of CGI as well. The movie trailers also pique your interest. When you consider all these aspects, it is natural for movie-goers to feel enthused in watching the movie on the big screen.

However, if you are wise or have learnt from past experience like us, then you would think twice before rushing to watch a much hyped movie in the theatres without giving it some good thought. There are many times that movie buffs have been caught in a nightmare when a supposedly appealing film turned out to be a rotten egg. We learnt much the same way with harsh experience as our instructor.

When we consider watching a film in the theatre, we take care to first read about it, its plot-line, critiques, reviews and comments from others. That way you can minimise the damage even if a movie does not meet your expectations - at least, it won't turn out to be a nightmare that you have to leave the theatre midway through the screening or suffer a severe headache thereafter, especially when you have paid good money for it. If you are unsure about a movie despite reading reviews, then best to give it a go-by and perhaps watch it on your TV later when its print is available. You will have the comfort of your own home and a TV remote to fast forward the painful parts of the movie. Remember, it is not just about the money you pay for a movie - it is the bad experience of watching it in a theatre that could very well stay with you for a prolonged period of time... it did for us on earlier occasions.

Getting back to GeoStorm, we watched this film at home. The story-line speaks about the triggering of a world-wide climate change and its severe impact across the globe. Earthlings have been warned time and again but as is typical of us, we ignored all those warnings. An unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet. To counter the disaster, the planet comes together, as every nation is equally endangered from the threat of a GeoStorm. They build and launch an intricate network of satellites designed to control the global climate and keep its inhabitants safe. For a while, everything is hunky dory. However, events soon turn bad. The host of satellites, built to protect the planet, mysteriously begin to attack Earth. The countdown to save the planet is on and it is a race against the clock for Gerard Butler to unravel the real threat before a worldwide GeoStorm wipes out everything.

Unfortunately, the film was quite pathetic despite boasting big Hollywood names and its CGI special effects! Interestingly, the rugged looking Gerard Butler plays the role of an astral engineer / astronaut who designed the network of climate control satellites called Dutch Boy. This is somewhat of a stretch for audiences to latch on. While the core scenario of climate change initially sounded promising, yet it winded down horribly. The script is extremely weak - and it felt as if the writer was in a bad place when he wrote it! The movie is a mish-mash of several of its predecessors.

The plot-line, as it unfolded, simply did not make sense and many a time (which was most of the movie) was outright ridiculous! Several parts of the movie could not be explained by any rational mind! If you did not already catch it, Mumbai is shown as only a city of slums and nothing else - typical stereotype! The premises of the movie on climate events is botched up and defies logic. The movie mostly meanders on, quite dull and boring, a thorough drag and a washout! It is what is often called 'an eye-rolling story'. The editing could not patch up the film however hard they may have tried as it was already broken in to a million pieces! Simply put, it was insulting the intelligence of the audience!

Alternatively, it could be a movie for scientists to have an absolutely good laugh or for triggering emotion in those with cold personalities! Our suggestion - give it a go-by and save yourself before you are consumed by it!

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Forward The Foundation - Isaac Asimov

Forward the Foundation - Isaac Asimov!

Tags: Magical Story Novels Epic Skills Legend Grand Master Masterpiece Science Fiction Sci-Fi Autobiography Forward Foundation Dune Series Authors H G Wells Arthur C Clarke Asimov Frank Herbert Hari Seldon Dors Venabili Eto Demerzel Daniel Merlin Spock Vulcan Android Psychohistory Emotions Life Transformation Human Alien Depression Reader Visionary Equations Brainchild

What can we say about the almost magical story telling skills of the Grand Master of Science Fiction!

Forward, The Foundation, is another master piece from one the greatest science fiction authors of all times!

True, there have been many other great sci-fi masters like H.G.Wells and Arthur C. Clarke. However, it is Asimov who is known for creating the greatest science fiction epic of all time - the Foundation Series! Perhaps, he is rivaled by only one another Master - Frank Herbert of Dune fame! It is a pity that we are deprived of both of them. They are no more with us. And we truly miss the extensions to the Foundation and Dune Series!

All the time that we had read the Foundation Novels, the legend that is Hari Seldon was always depicted as an elderly, God-fatherly figure, whose science of psychohistory knew no bounds! A modern Merlin completely free from emotions - Spock, the Vulcan! Nothing much was known about him in the earlier Foundation novels. But this book is almost an auto-biography of that legend and his extra-ordinary life, prior to his transformation to a legend. It picturises him in a completely different way than we had imagined him to be previously! He is shown as a normal human being who faces all the pit-falls in life just as any other human being! He is not exempt or alien to depression, emotion, & bureaucratic hurdles!

The reader is shocked to know that at one point of time, the science of psychohistory, that is taken for granted, may never have come into existence at all! Even more intriguing - who was the real visionary of the science of psychohistory - Hari Seldon or Eto Demerzel (Alias, Daniel the android?)? Of course, the reader knows that the equations of psychohistory were cracked by Hari Seldon, but whose brain-child was the science of psychohistory?

Asimov weaves his web of story-telling skills, and the reader is shown how all the foundation novels slowly mesh together including the non-foundation novels of Earth, dealing with characters like Daniel, the Android!

Some questions are however kept alive in the reader’s mind! Are Eto Demerzel & Dors Venabili androids? The reader is left to imagine...

Worth reading any time, esp. for sci-fi buffs! The plot is a bit slow. But, under the circumstances, it has to be that way!

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The Robots Of Dawn - Isaac Asimov

Robots of Dawn - Isaac Asimov

Tags: Terminator Matrix AI Androids Skynet Robotics Movie Celluloid Books Novels Author Writing Plots Story Masterpiece Robots of Dawn Foundation Caves of Steel Frankenstein Psychologists Psychology Psychiatrists Sociology Logic Genetics Genomics Physiology Technology Sci-fi Fantasy Laws Scientists Inventions Stars Planet Aurora Earth Earthlings Human Humanity Mankind Spacers Biospheres Colonised Exploration Population Demography Society Taboos Incest Elijah Baley Daneel Premonitions Prejudices Disease Agoraphobia Fear Crime Prison Investigator Life Insights Emperors MENSA Armageddon

On Terminators, Matrices, and the Robots of Dawn!
Why is it that we almost always have movie plots in which AI, androids, robots, and their ilk, are shown destroying the world?

Take for example, the 2 popular movies of our time - the terminator and the matrix. In both these movies and their sequels, SKYNET and MATRIX are shown as setting off on a campaign to destroy earthlings! In fact, this phenomenon is not confined to the celluloid, and spans the world of books too!

Frankenstein complex or a general complexe d'infériorité? Or simply, the fear of the Unknown? Or as the Para-psychologists would say - are we having prémonitions of what the future may portend for us, and hence, this -ve feeling?

On Asimov’s Robots!
Asimov's books largely dealt with robots of all kinds, and were modelled on a refreshing concept, ''The 3 Laws of Robotics'' that primarily guided robots' behaviour towards human beings. In fact, Asimov is credited with using the word “Robotics” for the first time in one of his short stories composed way back in the 1940s.

Asimov's writing was like a whiff of fresh air, and was a pleasant deviation from the norm! At the time that his peers were writing about robots that were essentially malevolent, he wrote about benevolent robots! He introduced robots as largely man-made inventions that functioned to the general good of mankind! To strengthen this perspective, he introduced the then novel concept of the ''The 3 Laws of Robotics'', within which all robots operated viz.,

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Subsequently, in his later novels, Asimov modified these laws further. Incidentally, these laws continue to be the subject of critiques by scientists the world over. Who knows - when we do have the kind of robots that Asimov envisages in his books, they may be imprinted with similar laws!

THE ROBOTS OF DAWN
It is here that his book, ''The Robots of Dawn'', one of his many masterpieces, took centre-stage when it was published. It was part of the Elijah Baley and Robots series. This book laid the foundation for his famous Foundation trilogy!

The Plot
The story deals with the illegal termination of a very valuable android on an advanced planet, Aurora (a.k.a Dawn). An investigator from Earth, Elijay Baley, is called in to investigate. Why from Earth? Because the advanced planets have reached a stage of development where crime of any kind is almost non-existent (idyllic?)! Hence, they do not have a mechanism that can address a crime when it really occurs! So, they turn to Earth, where crime is common ;-) Hence, the expert from Earth - shameful credits indeed! Another android Daneel is assigned to aid the Earth investigator! The investigator despite all the headaches that he encounters finally manages to solve the crime!

Simple, isn't it? Nope, it is not! There are several twists and turns between the prologue and the epilogue! This book is actually a sequel to ''Caves of Steel'', and it would be advisable to read that book too! However, it still is a sequel that stands by itself!

More Detail…
The book was a trendsetter for remarkable, but possible, thinking in several ways. In fact, seen from today's perspective, it was almost prophetic! Among its many nuances, it dealt with a futuristic mankind! A future wherein there were two classes of humans’ viz., the spacers and the earthlings!

Spacers were essentially human beings whom Earth had settled down on other planets. They were the best from Earth's gene pool, and generally, had the best genetic traits to their credit! But, once these spacers colonised on other planets, they severed their umbilical cord that connected them to their mother planet, Earth. They developed vastly, both physiologically and intellectually, and were able to virtually eliminate disease from their biospheres! Result! Long life spanning several centuries! Fantasy? Well, the fact is, humanity may well be on the way to that ideal!

On the other hand, earthlings took a totally different approach. They stopped living on the surface of the planet! Instead, they burrowed down under the planet. They built huge beehives of steel that supported them throughout their lives. Day and night lost meaning! After a point of time, it became impossible for them to even think of living on the surface of the planet as they were beset by a phenomenon that our psychiatrists would call agoraphobia or fear of open spaces! With that, they lost the advantage as they no longer could look to the stars for exploration, and were permanently cursed to live on their earth prison.

Insights
How is the population going to adjust itself with long lived humans?
Enter genetics, genomics, demography, and enforced population control by the state! The state enforces the number of people that need to be born ;-) based on the number of people that are estimated to die! When there is a requirement, the gene pool is resorted to!

But, won't the people turn rebellious?
Would they when the entire process is agreeable to them? Importantly, why would they do so when they live like emperors in huge palatial mansions blessed with longevity and youth!

How would the Gene Pool impact on blood relationships?
All blood ties have lost meaning, and are only preserved as scientific records and for genomic computations. There are no longer societal taboos like incest for the simple reason that there is no public knowledge of blood ties. Depravity? The only consideration is genomics!

If androids look and function as human beings, how would it impact their society?
Here, Asimov has explored the clash of age-old prejudices, and captured them on 2 different planets, Earth and Aurora. On Earth, robots are taboo! On Aurora, it is an entirely different story. Robots have rights, and they occupy an almost equal place as humans. They outnumber humans easily by scores! And are imbibed with the ability to... yep! LEARN! Can robots learn?

The book casts valuable insights on these and other aspects. The author's views themselves cannot be taken lightly. He was a scientist in his own right, and was a member of the MENSA!

Miscellaneous
The book also discusses the possibilities of robots not only colonising planets in place of humans, but also setting up robot colonies much like human colonies that procreate. The book is a masterpiece when it comes to the relations between human beings and robots, and deals extensively with it.

Recommendation
Must robots always be associated with Armageddon, violence, and carnage? Not necessarily! Read this book to find out the alternatives to the clichés!

A must read book! Makes very interesting reading and throws several insights into psychology, sociology, logic, genetics, genomics, and technology!

Sci-fi enthusiasts - don't miss this book!

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